Detroit Repertory Theatre Announces 61st Season

DETROIT – Michigan’s longest running, nonprofit, professional theatre announces its 61st season. The Detroit Repertory Theatre continues its mission to produce indigenous, diversity centered theatre and to democratize the arts from its legendary inner city stage in the heart of Detroit.
The Detroit Repertory Theatre is one of a handful of neighborhood based, union, professional theatres in this country that still thrives. It has become a model of grassroots artistic development and remains in the forefront of race transcendent casting – casting without regard to ethnicity (unless germane to the play) and when possible, gender.
The mission, to use the unifying power of theatre to prove the power of diversity acting in unity, has united metro Detroiters since 1957.
The four plays on the upcoming season reflect that mission, presenting stories of hope for a better world, relevant to all Americans today, but especially to metro Detroiters. The first – Swimming Upstream by Rich Rubin – is a romantic comedy about a young marine biologist’s love of salmon as she tries to convince her Reagan-worshipping mother that climate change is real; second – Dauphin Island by Jeffry Chastang – is a sensuous story written by a Detroit Rep company member about two flawed people with messy pasts thrown together by happenstance; next – Harmony Park by Danial Damiano – construction workers building a park where two girls, one white and one black were murdered is a poetic look at race relations in America today; and ending the season is a dark comedy – Ghost Gardens by Steven Simoncic – set in a forgotten neighborhood of Detroit, also written by a native Detroiter, about the power of community.
The Detroit Repertory Theatre has will kick off the 2017/18 season on Nov. 2 with a champagne celebration and toast to the power of theatre and this vital Detroit arts institution.
The Annual Black Tie Gala Awards Night and Homecoming Celebration benefit for the Detroit Repertory Theatre will be Nov. 18. Tickets for this event are $75 and tax deductible sponsorships are available.